January 05, 2011

President Obama signs shark conservation act

President Obama last night signed the Shark Conservation Act of 2010. The new law prohibits cutting off the fins of sharks at sea and dumping the carcasses into the ocean (earlier story here). Landing sharks with fins attached is expected to give U.S. fisheries officials a better count of how many sharks and what species are caught. Many shark species have been heavily overfished for their fins for Chinese shark fin soup.

Matt Rand, director of shark conservation for the Pew Environment Group, said that the new law is a step forward for global shark conservation, but more is needed. (A video with more of Rand's comments is here.)